Attachment for strands, ropes, or cables



J 9 E. A. cbNNER ATTACHIENT FOR STRMDS, ROPES, OR GABLES Filed Nov. 12. 1926 INVENTOR Edward 4 60222262" W ATTORNEY Patented June 18, 1929.

"UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE.

EDWARD A. CONNER, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR '10 AMERICAN CHAIN,

COMPANY, INC-, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ATTACHMENT non swamps, ROI'ES, on cums.

Applicationfiled November 12, 1926.. Serial No. 148,087.

This invention relates to improvements in couplings and particularly to an attachment adapted for coupling tension members such as wire strand, rope or cable, etc.

An object of my invention is to provide a very simple and inexpensive coupling which may be readily operated to couple and uncouple a pair of cable ends or the like.

Another object is to provide a coupling 1 device in which tension on the members coupled increases the security of hold of the coupling. 1

Another object is to provide av coupling which cannot be-accidently uncoupled.

Another object is to provide a coupling which will release only upon relieving tension on the members coupled, and then moving them relatively toward each other and turning them through apredetermined angle.

Another object-of myinvention is to provide a coupling device for coupling a clevis to a tension member.

-With these and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is .a side view, partly in section;

of my improve couplin showlng a pair 0 cable ends coupled toget er;

Fig. 2 is a view oflmy coupling in longi-- tudinal section showing a dpair of cable ends 3 in the act of being couple Fig. 3 is a view in cross section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 1s a 'view in cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1

.40 Fig. 5 is a. view of modified form, of my invention showing a cable end coupled to a clevis; and

Fig. 6 is a View in cross section taken on the line 6- -6 of Fig. 5.

I emplo in my coupling a sleeve member 10, which is divided by a central partition 11 to form two open sockets 12, and the ends of two tension members '14 and 15 respectively, which are to be con led. together, are each imbedded in a cylin rical plug 16 of a size to fit said sockets. Formed on the cylindrical wall of each socket is a .pair of diametrically opposed dovetailed or-undercut tenons 17 Each tenon runs parallel to the axis of the sleeve and extends from the lip or outer end of the socket, to a point which is of slightly greater distance from the central partition 11 than the length of the plug 16. The tenons are also tapered laterally with their wider ends at the lips of the sockets. Each 0 plug is provided in its cylindrical surface w th a pair of diametrically opposed dovetalled or undercut grooves 18, which are reversely tapered with respect to the tenons 17, so as to engage and fit said tenons snugly. 6 However, because of their taper the grooves and tenons can be brought into interlocking engagement only by introducing the plugs 16 into the sockets past the inner ends of the tenons and then drawing them outward. To 7 permit of thus introducing the lugs into the sockets each plug 16 is provi ed with a pair ,of diametrically opposed grooves 19, preferably located midway between the grooves 18. The grooves 19 have parallel side walls and the width of each groove is slightly greater than the widest portion of, the tenons 17. Thus when a plug 16 has been turned to the position shown in Fig. 3, the grooves 19 will clear the tenons 17 and the 80. plug-may be introduced into the cou ling sleeve. After the plug has been pushed 'nto the s0cket'12 past the tenons 17 it is turned through an angle of degrees to bring the grooves 18 into registry wlth the tenons 17. 85.. Then on drawing the plug outward the ten ons enter the grooves 18 (see Fig. 4) and because of the taper of the tenons the plug will be locked fast to the coupling sleeve. It is .to be understood that instead 'of cou- 9o pling together the ends of two tension memers as illustrated in Fig. 1, the invention may be embodied in an attachment for a single tension member by applyin to the end or an intermediate portion t ereof a plug 16 and sleeve part 10 comprising half of the coupling sleeve shown, and the sleeve may be threaded externally or otherwise adapted for any desirable connection with another member to which it may he wished to attach the tension member.

Other modifications may be made, and in Figs; 5 and 6 I show another form of my invention used for coupling a clevis to a tension member. The end of the tension member 20 is embedded in a plug 21 which is very similar in form to the plug 16, having a pair of diametrically o posed taper grooves 18, tapering to a narrower width at the free end of the plu 21. To engageth'e grooves 22, two tapere tenon members 23 are provided, which are similar in form to the tenons 17, but instead of being secured to or formingpart of a coupling sleeve 10, are connected to the clevis 24. The clevis 24 consists of a U-shaped member, the ends of -which are journaled upon a'pair of studs 25 projecting from the outer faces of the tenon members 23. t

In operation, the clevis 24 is swiveled .on the studs 25 to a position that is substantially normal to the axes of the tenon members 23. This permits of introducing the narrower ends of the tenon members 23 into the wider ends of the grooves 22 in the plug 21, and then by drawin the tenon members outward and swinging t e clevis to the position shown in Fig. 5, the coupling of the tension member 20 to the clevis is completed. As'lon as the clevis 24 extends over the free en of the plug 21, it is im ossible to release the plug from the clevis, ut whenever desired the clevis may be swung clear of the end of the plug 16, after which the plug by slidin tenon members may released from the them inward or away from .the free end 0? the plug. The plug 21 may be provided with; additional grooves 26 locate midway between the grooves 22. This will be found of. advantage at times, and

particularly when it is desirable to connect or disconnect a clevis without swinging it about its pivots, in which event the clevis ,will be made long enough to perinit an axial movement like that of the sleeve 10, rela- I ing provided withv tenons adapted respjectively to the plug 16, described with refer ence to Fig. 1. {Having thus described my invention and with the understanding that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, I claim: 7 f -1. In' a coupling of the character described, a plu member adapted to be. se-

,,cured to an en of a tension member, and a coupling .member ada plug, one of nally mortised, and said other member beted. to receive said tively toengage said mortises remova 1y, said tenons and mortises being-tapered to wed e together and connect said coupling mem ers against relative axial movement in one direction.

2. In a coupling of the character described, a socket member, and a plug member adapted to fit therein, one of saidniem- -bers being formed with a tenon and the other with a mortise to engage said tenon, said other member bein groove .to clear'sai tenon, permitting the plug to be' introduced into the socket and scribed vamem tenon f rmed on a side wall of the socket said ,mem ers being longitudi also formed with a alignment, sai mortise and tenon being tapered in such direction as to interlock as the plug member is drawn outward from the socket member. 3. In a con lingt of the character del ier formed with a socket, a

and extending part way therein, anda plug adapted to be introduced into the socket past the inner end of the tenon, the plug being formed with a mortise groove extending to the outer end thereof and adapted to be interlocked with the tenon by outward movement of the plug with respect to the socket.

4. In a con ling of the character de- 'turned to brin the mortise and tenon into scribed, a mem er formed with a socket, a-'

tenon formed on a side wall of the socket and extending part way therein, and a plug formed with a groove to clear the tenon and.

permit of introducing the plug into the socket past the tenon, the

ug being also formed with a groove to t and interlock I with the tenon, the latter groove extending to the. outer end of the plug to receive the inner end of the tenon. g

5. In a, coupling of the character described, a member formed with a socket, a tenon formed on a side-wall of'the socket and extending part way therein, the tenon tapering to a narrower width at the inner end thereof, and a plug adapted to be introduced into the socket past the inner end of the .tenon, the plug being formed with a mortise groove reversely tapered with respect to the tenon "and adapted to interlock therewith. 1

6. In a cou lin of the character described; a mem er formed with a socket, an under-cut tenon formed on a side wall of the socket and extending part way therein, and

aplug adapted to be introduced into the socket past" the inner end ofthe tenon, the

.. plug being formed with an under-cut groove extending toward the outer end thereof and- -s ect to the tenon and-adapted'to interlock t erewith.

v 8. In a con ling of the character described, a mem er formed with a socket, a

and extending part way therein, the tenon tapering to a narrower width near the inner .endthereo'f, and -a plug adapted to be in- :tenon' formed on a side wall of the socket I names 'troduced into the socket past the inner end of the tenon, the plug bein formed with an under-cut groove reverse y tapered with respect to the tenon and adapted to interlock therewith.

9. In a coupling of the character described, a sleeve member, a tenonformed on the inner wall of the sleeve member and extending part way therein, and a ,plug formed with a groove to clear the tenon and permit of introducing the plug into the sleeve member past the tenon, the sleeve member being formed with a transverse wall spaced from the inner end of the tenon a distance slightly greater than the length of the plug, the plug being formed with a mortiseto fit the tenon, said mortise extending toward the outer end of the plug to receive the inner end of the tenon.

10. In a coupling of the character described, a plug adapted to be secured to an end of a tension member, said plug being longitudinally mortised on opposite sides thereof, a pair of tenon members adapted respectively to engage thelmor'tised portions of said plug, a coupling member carrying said tenons and embracing said plug when said plug and coupling member are as sembled, said tenons and mortises being tapered to interlock as the tenons'are drawn outwardly with respect to. the tension member.

11. A device of the character described,

' comprisinga plug adapted to be secured to a tension member and formed with'a pair of under-cut mortises respectively disposed on op osite sidesof the plug, the mortises exten ing longitudinally of .the plug and tapering to a narrower width at the free end of the plu a pair of tapered tenon members forme 'to interlock with said mortises, and a" U-shaped member connecting said tenon members- 12. A device. of the character described, comprising a plug adapted 'to be secured to a tension member and formed with a pair 'of under-cut mortises longitudinally disposed on opposite sides 0 the plug, the

mortises tapering to a smaller dimension at the free end of the M a pair of tapered tenon members formei to interlock with said mortises, and a U-shaped member pivotally secured to said tenon members.

' 13. A device of the character described, comprising a plug adapted to be secured to a tension member and formed with a pair of under-cut. mortises longitudinally disposed on opposite sides 0 the plug the mortises tapering to a smaller dimension at the free end of the lug, a pair 0 tapered tenon members ormed to interlock with said mortises, a stud projecting from the outer face of each tenon member, and a U-shaped member spanning the tenons and pivoted on the studs.

14. A device of the character described, comprising a plug adapted to be secured to a tension member and formed with a pair of under-cut mortises longitudinally disposed on opposite sides of the plug, the mortises tapering to a smaller dimenslon. at the free end of the plug, a pair of tapered tenon members formed to interlock with said mortises, a stud projecting from the outer face of each tenon member, and a U- shaped member spanning the tenon members and pivoted'on the studs, the outer end of each stud being tain the U-shaped member.

15. A device of the character described,

comprising a plug adapted to be secured to a tension member and formed with a pair of under-cut mortises longitudinally disposed on opposite sides of the plug, a pair of taperedtenon members formed to interlock with said mortises, a stud projecting from the outer face of each tenon member, and a U-shaped member spanningthe tenon members and pivoted on the studs, the length of the U-shaped member being sufiicient to span the ends of the tenon members but with a clearance less than the length of said plug. 4

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

EDWARD A. CONNER.

formed with ahead to re 

